Global map settings

Map design Maps for different languages

This collection of articles outlines a recommended workflow for developing maps tailored to various languages.

  1. Change language in a map
  2. Global map settings
  3. Disputed borders on your maps
  4. How to automatically change disputed borders according to your map visitors’ location

This article explains Global map settings in MapTiler Customize. You can find this panel as a third icon on the left side menu or use the Alt+S shortcut.

To use MapTiler Customize, you need to set up a MapTiler Cloud account. If you don’t have one yet, don’t hesitate to sign up for free!

Worldview

The worldview section of the Settings allows changing map language, translation, units, and borders.

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Language

The language menu contains many different world languages or a local option. Local is the native language of the country where the map feature is located. All MapTiler styles have the “Defined by style” option selected by default. This means there is a combination of languages selected by our cartographers.

global-language.png

If the data have different languages tagged in the name attributes, it will change with this setting. You can check this after clicking on a specific layer and switching to the Data tab.

settings-data.png

Translation

To enable translation, you need to select a language for your map. You can then add labels in any other language under your initial language choice.

global-translation.png

Units

Units allow switching between meters and feet globally. You will see this setting only if there are layers with units in your map. By default, Outdoor, Winter, Topo and Ocean map styles include it. This setting is visible in mountain peaks’ elevation or contours. MapTiler styles have the “Mixed” option selected by default. This means there are Feet used for the US, whereas the rest of the world uses Meters.

global-units.png

Borders

In the Borders settings, users can choose their preferred disputed borders view. More details can be found in this article.

settings-borders.png

Default view

The default view defines the initial rendering position of the map with the zoom level, latitude, longitude, tilt, and rotation. The default position of MapTiler maps is zoom level 1 with all other properties on zero.

settings-default-view.png

If you want to have a map’s specific position as the default view, use the icon next to it (Set current view).

default-view-current.png

Zoom level

Zoom level defines the level of detail that can vary from value 0 to 22. Zoom level can be changed by scrolling in the map or typing it in the upper right corner. You can also use a set current zoom level button.

default-view-zoom.png

Latitude, longitude

Lat and lon coordinates define the center of the map. Both are measured in degrees. If you are not sure about the coordinates of a place, you can use the Set current latitude/longitude button or some web tools such as Get Lat Lon OSM.

default-view-lat-lon.png

Tilt and rotation

You can tilt or rotate the map with your right mouse button or with the clock symbol in the upper right corner of the map.

default-view-tilt.png

Font fallback

In global maps, it is important to think about the font’s ability to draw different scripts. Your default font will switch to the fallback font in case of unsupported characters. We include Noto Sans and Serif in the drop-down menu as it supports Arabic, Cyrillic, Greek, Chinese, or Japanese scripts as well as Latin.

settings-fallback.png

Conclusion

Settings (Alt+S) in MapTiler Customize allow users to adjust languages, units, or borders in their maps or change the initial map position based on zoom level, latitude, longitude, or tilt and rotation.

Next steps

Continue to Disputed borders on your maps to learn how to display the borders according to the selected country’s policy.

Change language in a map
Disputed borders on your maps
Contours and mountain peaks in feet
Languages | MapTiler Planet schema